Washing machine



F. P. KEIPER WASHING MACHINE Aug. 4, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5. 1948 INVENTUR FRANms P. KEIPEH ATT DERBY g 1953 F. P. KEIPER WASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1948 INVENTUR Frmncls E KEIPEH 4 /04- 1 0 /22 ,aaf I24 ATTUHNEY' 1953 F. P. KEIPER 2 ,647,386

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 [NVENTDE FR ANGIE P. KEIPEH ATTURNEY F. P. KEIPER WASHING MACHINE Aug. 4, 1953 Filed April 5, 1948 '5 Sheets- Sheet 5 UISI'VE N T U H FRANCIS P. K 1pm ATTDHNE? Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES. FATE F F ICE.

WASHING MACHINE Francis P; Keip.er;. Cazenovia, assignor tn Easy Washing Machine Corpo a o -i. Sy ac ei. N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April'3, 1948, Serial-No. 18,790

9Claims. l Ihis invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to washing machines in which centrifugal extraction is employed.

In washing machines having centrifugal extractors, considerable difficulty is had in loading the clothes-containing basket or drum in balanced relation, with the result that, at high speed rotation thereof, vibration is present. Such vibration consumes power and tends to fatigue the parts, aside from its disturbing aspect.

In manually loaded machines of the vertical axis type, it is possible with considerable skill to load the centrifuge in approximate balance, so that such vibration is minimized. However, in

automatic washing machines, where washing. and extraction are sequentially carried out in the same container, it is undesirable for the operator to be required to handle the laundry for the purpose of distributing it properly. Particularly in horizontal axis machines, it is impossible for the operator to distribute the clothes manually.

The present invention is directed towardbal- I ancing an unbalanced. loaded centrifugal extractor by application of counterbalance liquid about the periphery of the extractor in automaticall'y selected peripherally spaced locationsas the need therefor appears. The inventionhas to do further with the construction and application of liquid containing pockets for receiving counterbalance liquid to a centrifugal extractor.

Additionally, the invention is directed to-suitable controls for restricting the application of such balancing liquid to a suitable-range of speed, normally lower than the maximum speed at which final extraction is had and above a preset minimum. The invention still further relates to apparatus for causing the balancing operation to be cyclically repeated in the event of failure to establish a balance within a reasonable time.

The above and other novel features of theinvention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It

is expressly understood that the drawings'are era-- ployed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference-being had for this purpose to the appended claims. 7

In the drawings, 'whereinlike reference acters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a centrifugal extractor type washing machine with cabinet portions broken away, to which the invention isapplied;

char- Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the 2 1 axis of the machine substantially ontheline 2.-,-21 of Figure 1'; Figure-3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3--3=of-Figure 2'; Figure 4 is a transverse sectionv through th I machine taken substantially onthe line 4.'- l of" Figure 2;

Figure 5- is an" enlarged: end View: taken on. theline 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-43: of Figured; Figure 7- is a rear view of the: machine 111115, trating the hydraulic and electrical control devices; 1

Figure 3' is an exploded perspective detail view of one of the balancing pockets; and

Figure 9 is' a schematic electrical hydraulic control circuit.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2; there. will appear a tub or splash guard 2B. resiliently suspended: from a stationary frame 22, the latter. having a horizontal open tramework 24: supported on:

with a saddle 28 which is suspended at either" side and at the front and rear from upwardly extending links 30. hanging from horizontally ex-. tending links 32 pivoted. to theupper end of-"the posts 26. The horizontal links 32 are resiliently supported in the position. shown by. conical springs 3'4 extending between the stationary frame and suitable brackets, not shown, but. rigidly connected to the links. 32.. A. suitable housing 36- supported upon the frame- 2: 2 surrounds thetub, there being provided sufficient clearance for limited lateral and upward movement of the tub. I

Suspended from the tub and beneath it are a main drive motor 38; which is connected by a belt to a transmission 413 and a suitable drain pump 42. Within the tub 20* is awash drum orcontainer Mt having a slightly tapered (fir outer wall 46', arear wall 48, and a front wall the latter being provided with a circulai our opening 52 with arotata'blecircular door 54 ccopera-ting therewith for providing access to the drum-for loa'd-ingand unloading, as Well as'a seal therefor during washing; The drum- M is supported at its rear upon a shaft" 5t mounted on bearings 58- carried by aback wall: 62 spaced to the rear of the back wall 48 and a central hub member mounted upon the shaft .55 and supporting the walls as and 6-2: ofthe drum it:

The revolvable door'fi'dis mounted upon a bearing 66 ;carried upon a. transverse hinged bar 68 hinged to the-forward wall 7H) of the'tui' 2i The modate a supply, pipe I8 for introducing'wash water into the drum 44. The shaft 56 extends to the rear of the bearings 48 and has keyed thereon a sheave 86 adapted to be belt driven as at a 82 from the transmission 40. Wash water is-removed from the drum 44 by means of a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed arcuate peripheral passages 83 arranged between the rear wall 48 and outer wall 62. In practice, each passage is substantially 180 in length and is provided with an inlet opening 84 entering into the compartment 86 between the walls 48 and 62 and has a discharge opening 88 at its opposite end for discharge into the tub or splash guard 26. The rear wall 48 is provided with a plurality of spaced peripheral ports 96 which permit flow of wash water from the drum 44 into the compartment 86. It will be seen from the foregoing description that the drum 44 is supportedfor rotation on front and rear bearings which are in turn carried by the tub 26, previously described as suspended for limited movement with respect to the frame 22. The drum 44 is provided with a number of baffles or vanes 92 arranged in staggered relation and in spaced planes upon the internal surface of the slightly tapered drum wall 46.

Hot and cold water supply lines 94 and 96, respectively, are connected to temperature control valves 98 and I60, and a flexible conduit I62 connects the output of such valves to the conduit I8 extending through hollow shaft 56. The structure thus far described is described in more complete detail in the pending applications of Peyton W. Douglas, Serial No. 775,237, filed September 20, 1947, and Serial No. 787,445, filed November 21, 1947, issued February 26, 1952, as Patent No. 2,586,794. i

In the apparatus described, a wash load is introduced through the door 54, and detergent is introduced through the soap channel in the hollow trunnion 66. Suitable wash water in proper quantity and temperature is introduced through the conduit I8. Washing is effected by rotation of the drum in a clockwise direction, it appearing that-with rotation in such direction, the conduits 83 are ineffective to permit wash water to escape through the inlet and outlet ports 84 and 88 of the conduits83. Upon completion of the washing operation, rotation is reversed, whereupon the conduits 83 act in a bailing or scooping capacity and remove wash water from the drum 44. Thereafter, rinsing of laundry contained within the drum may be effected by the intro-- duction of rinse water and rotation in a clockwise direction followed by draining of the rinse water by rotation in a counterclockwise direction, the

latter being effected through the same conduits 83 inthe manner described in connection with the elimination of wash-water; If desired, rotation may be effected following a washing operation in a counterclockwise direction during which there is continuously supplied rinse water through the conduits I8. For such purposes, a spray rosette 1.9 may be provided for effective distribution of the rinse water through the internal drum surfaces. Various combinations of rinsing procedure as described may be employed as is desired.

It will be understoodthat the transmission 40 may provide for the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation previously described, or a reversible motor may be employed. Upon completion of the rinsing operation, however, the transmission will cause the drum to speed up for extraction of moisture from the laundry contained within the drum. The laundry contained within the drum will be distributed about the inner wall thereof as the speed is increased. It will be understood that there will be a certain amount of tumbling action of the laundry initially during this acceleration stage, during which the various articles will tend to uniformly distribute themselves about the inner surface of the wall 46.

In practice, the uniform distribution sought by such tumbling action and gradually increasing speed is often unsatisfactory in that a severe unbalanced condition may result. The unbalanced condition may be aggravated by the type of laundry placed within the drum, for example, a chenille rug or a heavy bath towel containing a large amount of water may position itself on one side of the drum, and insufficient laundry may dispose itself opposite thereto to establish satisfactory conditions. In fact, automatic laundries of the type described are often subjected to washing of a single heavy piece of the character described, which cannot distribute itself uniformly about the internal wall and therefore establishes an extremely severe unbalanced condition. Where a severe unbalanced condition occurs, acceleration of the drum causes the center of the drum to be carried in the direction of unbalance, and until a critical speed is reached and passed, the motion of the drum may be extremely severe causing violent vibration and excessive strain on'the bearings and parts. The surrounding tub, under such conditions, may move through distances beyond the clearance provided within the surrounding cabinet 36 and severe vibration will be transmitted to the sup- I porting floor upon which the machine rests.

In order to obviate the conditions respecting unbalance, which may occur in a machine of the type described, a counterbalancing apparatus is employed, together with mechanism for rendering the counterbalancing effective and responsive to the uneven load distribution within the drum causing the unbalance. In Figures 2 and 4, there is shown, arranged about the outer surface of the tapered drum wall 46, a plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets I04, I66 and I08. The pockets are in the form of shallow arcuate chambers each having an outer wall IIIJ extending fore and aftparallel to the axis of the drum 44, and cylindrically about the drum. Each of the pockets is less than in length and is suitably secured to the outer wall 46 of the drum 44 by fastening means such as, for example, the threaded bolts II2 which secure the vanes 92 within the drum. Each of the pockets may cornprise a shallow pan-like element having the outer wall H6 as described, a front wall H4 and side walls I I6 and I I8. The rear wall may be formed in part integral with the wall III) as at I20, and the outer wall l-IO may be extended to the rear of the drum 44 as at I22 to form a conduit I24 of shallow hat-shaped section through which balancing fluid may be introduced into the balancing pockets.

The conduit I24 may be completed by a complementary member I26 (see Figure 8) terminating in a wall I28 adapted to cooperate with the wall I20 in the forming of a rear wall of each i ;i99. .$.wil a d m h channel as rivets, spot or seam welding, or other mean-s ber, -antifbe secured. iihe'reiio by suitable means be desired. The enamels vary in depth, the

outer 'Waila'ctiiaHy beingeeceritric, Wifih the oi t bf fgre'atest "eccentricity being at the raiiiall coriadjacent corresponding sidewalls 6f 'thead'jdin irfg oiia'rinel's in 'aifify suitable manner as by spqt W'mifig, 'S'O that the 'p'ocket's 1E4, W5 and 1113 aifd Che channels W8, "i811 and 1'82 provide what 'I'Ii-ay be ti'lned es a bajlafii'hg Harness for 'p'esi Honing about "fih'e diiim 4 1. 'In the Structure iihus described, -the ihterc'gii'i'necb ioh ioefiween the eide 'weiils 'o'i t'h'e annular enamels serves to "cdn iit "the Tpddkets "sfirlitfirally across the rear-of illie'diiim' Sb is t'U'p'lbv'iflea rlal tiv'ely flgids'ti'u'c ture Well ebie to witirstenaflie eemrifugel "force (if balancing fluid which may be distributed to 'a'ii'y one or more of the pockets. In practice, the axial width of the annular 'chaniiels'may be in'the order Oi %'ii1ch s0 'fhalt the'eiitir'e st'aibk (if channels will require e minimum of axial space behind the drum. "Where 'sudh "dimen sibris'ere employed, each of thepock'et's may be identical to one another. The pbiieis thus in their errengememebmipftn drum meyme 11551;- 1y sta gered "axiellly'. The-*feltehing eai'e' 1'84 l i e "ween 1s iprwmee I 'viee e feiiewer 2M ei-xgege mm- @611 emi' Ski mimis valves actuated will correspond to the pockets positioned opposite a radial extending through the center of mass within the drum creating the unbalance. Thus, as the tub and drum structure of Figure 7 move to the left and periodically close switch 200 in response to the normal acceleration force of the center of mass, the valves which will be actuated will be those supplying balancing fluid to the pocket or pockets which are located at that time to the right of the drum axis (as seen in Figure '7) It will appear that movement of the tub may take place in response to an unbalanced condition at speeds below that sufficient to provide adequate centrifugal force to cause balancing fluid to be retained in or flow from the annular channels I18, I80 and I82 into the balancing pockets I04, I86 and I08. In order to prevent the flow of balancing fluid prior to sufficient speed to render such centrifugal flow efiective, a speed governor may be provided. To constitute such a governor, the eccentric 208 may be supported upon a hub collar 220 and be readily shiftable from a concentric position to eccentric position in response to a predetermined centrifugal force or speed of rotation. As shown in Figure 5, the eccentric 208 appears in a concentric position and when so positioned, none of the switches 2H], 2 [2 or 2H will be closed, as will be readily understood. The eccentric ring 208 is radially slidable upon a plurality of parallelly arranged pins 222 threaded or otherwise secured in the collar 220, the pins projecting into guide apertures 224 in the eccentric ring. Concentricity of the ring is normally maintained by a compression spring 226, the ends of which are positioned in oppositely facing recesses 228 and 230 in the collar and ring, respectively. An adjusting screw 232 provides an effective stop for determining the concentric position.

A pair of levers 234 and 236, pivoted to the collar 220 at 235 and 231, respectively, are suitably weighted as at 238 and 240 as to be sensitive to centrifugal force. The lever arms are adapted to bear against eccentric ring carried bearing points 242 and 244, so that upon the attainment of a predetermined speed, the ring 208 will be shifted against the radial force of the spring 225 to move the ring 208 to an eccentric position, the

eccentricity being limited upon the compression of the spring 226 sufficient to permit the ring 298 to bear against the collar 220 adjacent the spring 226. In practice, the spring 226 may be under residual compressive stress and the actual eccentric movement substantially limited so that complete eccentricity of the ring 208 is established upon a change of speed of a few R. P. M. at the speed determined suitable to commence the introduction of counterbalancing fluid into one or more of the pockets I04. I05 and I08. It will appear that the collar 220 may be angularly adjusted on the shaft 56 and secured by set screw 221, so as to compensate for such lag as may be manifested by the centrifugal and other forces acting.

In practice, the selected speed will preferably be below the critical speed for the rotating unbalanced drum so that severe forces and vibration will not be encountered. As the speed, however, is gradually increased, the introduction of balancing fluid in the proper pockets'will counterbalance the unbalanced arrangement of laundry within the drum. So long as there is any substantial or appreciable lateral movement of the tub structure dueto an unbalanced condition,

flow of balancing fluid into the proper pocket will be effected and only after lateral movement has terminated will switch 200 remain open and the flow of balancing fluid to the pockets be discontinued. Since the current flow is periodic, as determined by the opening and closing of switch 200, the action of the valves will likewise be periodic. periodic action will efiect introduction of balancing fluid in fixed increments. However, such valves may be damped mechanically or electrically directly or by the use of relays, so as to remain open for a period approximately equal to the time of one revolution at the predetermined speed for governor operation.

As a substantially balanced condition is established, the speed continues to increase and extraction of water from the laundry within the drum continues at an accelerated rate. It will be appreciated that with a greater amount of laundry on one side of the drum than the other, with the increase of speed, a greater amount of water will be extracted from that side of the drum. Thus, as speed is increased, a new unbalanced condition will result, since the loss of water extracted from the laundry will result in lightening the load on that side of the axis so that the oounterbalancing fluid introduced to the pockets in effect now creates an unbalanced condition. As soon as any lateral motion of the tub again takes place, however, it will respond to the new center of mass of the rotating body and balancing fluid will be introduced into the pocket or pockets substantially opposite to the pockets into which balancing fluid was previously introduced. The introduction of fluid will continue until lateral movement and vibration discontinues such that the switch 200 remains open.

Through the apparatus described, it will be appreciated that a minimum of power is required to accelerate the mass since the unbalanced forces are eliminated at a relatively low speed and balancing is continuously effected as required as the speed increases. It will also be appreciated that since the drum will be balanced, considerably higher extraction speeds may be employed with a consequent removal of greater amounts of water from the laundry than has hitherto been considered practical. Full advantage is taken of the higher extraction speed by utilizing a drum 44 having an imperforate tapered wall 46 such that the laundry is continuously supported over its entire area by the tapered drum wall. The extracted liquid is caused to travel to the rear of the tapered wall and through the ports into the chamber 86, whence it is discharged through the arcuate conduits 83, it being appreciated that the direction of rotation employed for extraction is counterclockwise as viewed from the front of the machine. Thus, the laundry is not stressed or strained as would be the case were the drum wall perforate and the fabrics in effect stretched against the perforations and caused to stretch or dimple into the perforations under centrifugal force.

In order to prevent too rapid acceleration of the drum during the initial counterbalancing operation, it may be desirable to interrupt the flow of current to the driving motor 38 in the event unbalance occurs. This may be conveniently effected by inserting a relay 246 in series with the source of power 218, which upon flow of current through one or more of the valves 194, I96 or 198, may momentarily open the switch contacts 248 in series with the drive motor 38, In

By balancing at slow speed, such contacts 239 and 24 I .such an arrangementyj-further acceleration is arrested until a balance is obtained or unless the speed of the drum drops below the predetermined speed as determined by the centrifugal or speed responsive device effecting eccentricityof the eccentric ring (let, in which event the circuit is opened and the relay contacts 2.43 are then allowed to close. The relay 246 may be electrically or mechanically damped if desired, to delay its closing for a fraction of a second, so as to remain open so long as subjected to current impulses resulting from periodic closing of switch 200. With such an arrangement, balancing may be effected substantially at a constantspeed selected between the critica1 speed and the predetermined speed for which the speed responsive device is set. By ccunterbalancing the drum at the lowest speed permissible, a relatively long period of time may be employed for effecting balance and substantially perfect balance may be attained before accelerating the drum to the higher speed desirable for efficient extraction. Again, should unbalance occur at higher speeds due to the loss of a greater quantity of water extraotcd from one portion of the laundry contained within the drum, the power may again be momentarily out off by the relay 248 so as to prevent further acceleration until balance is reestablished.

Under certain circumstances, the out of balance distribution may be-so bad that the counter- ,balancing pockets will fail to efiect a balance before one or more of the pockets becomes filled completely. When this occurs, it is desirable to repeat the cycle. Time sensitive mechanism may be employed to effectuate repetition, the same being "constituted by a heater resistance 235 acting upon a dished snap action bimetallic element 23.1, operating two pairs of switch contacts 239 and an. The resistance 235 and contacts 239 are operate the heat sensitive element 23! to open Contacts 2M are in cir- .cuit with themotor 38. The drum isthus allowed to slow down to rest, the. pockets permitted to spill, and after a second period during which the element 2-3! cools, and snaps back to normal, the contacts its and 2.4! are again closed. The cycle is thus repeated. During acceleration to the (predetermined governor speed, the laundry can redistribute itself and thereafter any unbalance will be counterbalanced by the L introduction of proper amounts of balancing fluid in the automatically selected pockets.

Since actually the drive motor is not permittarl to drive the drum, except at a speed slightly above the predetermined speed determined by the governor, themotor may be of small horsepower because its sole load is the acceleration of the drum, which may be effected gradually. Practically no energy is wasted shaking or vibrating the apparatus over any substantial period of time. A high rate of acceleration is not 7 From the fore oing against the outer walls of the pockets, mt. I05 andlOB, the water will drop out of each pocket as it'reaches, the top positionby gravityiag'ains't the outer surface of thedrum wall Eli, will then flow forward over thetapered surface thereof into the splash guard oriftiib and drain therefrom through the drain outlet 43 through the pump 42, which is the same drainage channel through which Wash water rinse-water and extracted water name after discharge .fromthe ports '33 in the Jiiear. or the diflim 45,

' descr tion, it wiu'a pear that apparatus is provided, comprising a tpunterbalafnce fluid receiving harness construction which .may vbeeasily fabricated and applied to, awashm and extractor .dlllll'lf The elements thereof maybe rinforcedinany suitable manner as ,may e requires to withstand thefdeg'ree pr c ntrifu l fi rc t b imposed thereupon. Also, control mechanism isprovide'd so as to render he apparatus part cularly appl cable to automatic operationiof the machine.

hltho eh a single practical embodimen of the invention has been illustrated and. described, it is to be understood thatfthe invention is not limited thereto. ,As' various .chaneesin .cohstrum c scle'ctionand 1. ieneementoi the parts may be made without departingffrorn the spirit vof the inventiolh as. will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, reierencewillbe had to the appended claims .for. a clcfiniticnof thev limi s of the invention; jjj' .I v

What is claimed-leaf. L I t v 1. In aw hine .machin a 'W hine 6 .tractingdrun mounted iorrotation and having an imperforate' Outer-.Wa1L' -rrieans f'or -ac celerating saiddrunito .an extracting speed, a plurality of radially inwardly open pockets uni formly arrange'd around and vbeyond,the-he riphery Off: said drum, meansforcentrifugally de livering balancing fluid to .one or more of said pockets, comprising. radially inwardly open channelannultone foreach of said pockets and in eluding a nuid'connection between each channel and a corresponding pocket, non -ro tatine means for delivering fluid under pressure selectively into onelor. more of said annulL-means sensitive to rotational unbalance ofsa'id drum and the angular position of the mass creating. unbalance for controlling said delivering means; and select: ing the annulus. er annuli for receiving balanm in'g fluid to compensateior rotational unbalance, and shafbdriven. ispeederesponsivel means for rendering said. sensitive rheans inoperative at all rotational speeds below thatnecessary .to'cause of said fluid underleentr rugai mice from Said. 3.113 111 to Said .DQCk-GES.

2. Ina washing machina'a washing and maxtracting drum moun ed at rotation and having an imperforate outer wall; power means for accelerating said drumto an extracting scees,..c plurality of radially inwardly open ,peclretsunie formly arran around an bey n thev p fishery of sa d drum; means iorcentrifueaily fileliverfling balancing fluid to one or more or said pock ts, maintainerimus. w y p n charnel annuli, one for each of .said' pockets and ins eluding a .fiuid connection b tw en .c hvcham nel and a corr p nding p k t. non-rotatin means he delivering fluid under pressure selec ti-vely into one or more ofsaidannu-li, means seinsitive to rotational nbalance or said drum and the angular cpos'itiorjinof the mass creating-"li ibal nce f r ontrolling said deliverin ing balancing fluid to compensate for rotational unbalance, shaft-driven speed responsive means for rendering said last named means effective only above a predetermined speed, and means responsive to vibration due to unbalance for interrupting said power means, said last named means being efiective at speeds above said predetermined speed only.

3. In a substantially imperforate washing machine, a washing and extracting drum mounted for rotation, means for rotating said drum at extracting speed, a plurality of counterbalance liquid receiving pockets secured in spaced relation about the outside surface of said drum, each of said pockets being inwardly open and comprising a shallow liquid containing compartment having an outer wall cyindrical with respect to the drum rotation axis and located exteriorly of the drum, said compartment having side walls extending generally radially to said outside surface, one end wall of said compartment being discontinuous, and said outer wall having a portion extending parallel to the drum axis beyond one end of the drum from the region of the end wall discontinuance and thence radially inward adjacent an end of said drum, a complemental member secured to said extending portion to form an axial and radial conduit with said extending portion, and annular inwardly directed channel means secured to the inner end of said radial conduit, said complemental member and extending portion terminating in annular disks, with their outer edges secured together and their inner portions spaced to form an annular inwardly directed channel, said channel being in communication with said radial conduit.

4. In a washing machine having an imperforate washing and centrifuging drum, a liquid counterbalance retaining pocket for mounting on said drum comprising a radially shallow arouate receptacle having a cylindrical outer wall, and inwardly extending side walls and end walls, one of said end walls having a port adjacent said outer wall, and an axial conduit extending therefrom, said receptacle being mounted on said drum exteriorly thereof, said axial conduit being radially fiat and circumferentially wide, and having a radially inwardly directed axially shallow portion, said conduit being formed of a pair of complementary members joined together along the shallow side walls formed thereby, said members terminating in substantially annular disks having inner circular edges coaxial with the axis of said cylindrical wall, and said disks being joined together about their outer peripheral edges, said joined edges being discontinuous at said conduit, and the ends thereof blending with the said joined side walls.

5. In a washing machine, an extracting drum, power means to accelerate and rotate said drum, counterbalance liquid receiving pockets arranged in spaced relation about the drum and open in a radiall inward direction, andmeans responsive to load unbalance to introducebalance liquid into one or more appropriate pockets to counterbalance load unbalance, said means including a vibration responsive device, drum speed responsive means to prevent operation of said load unbalance responsive means at all speeds below a predetermined speed in excess of that essential to centrifugally retain liquid in said pockets, means responsive to vibration to discontinue rotationacceleration of saiddrum, means responsive to a persistent unbalance vibration over a predetermined period of" time to discont nue 1'2 operation of said power means and said load unbalance responsive means, for a period of time to provide sufiicient deceleration of said drum, to reducethe speed thereof below said predetermined speed and below that required to retain counterbalance liquid centriiugally within sai pockets.

6. In a washing machine, an extracting drum, power means to accelerate and rotate said drum, counterbalance liquid receiving pockets arranged in spaced relation about the drum and open in a radially inward direction, and means responsive to load unbalance to introduce balance liquid into one or more appropriate pockets to counterbalance load unbalance, said means including a vibration responsive device, drum speed responsive means responsive solely to the rotation speed of the drum to prevent operation of said load unbalance responsive means at all speeds below a predetermined speed in excess of that essential to centrifugally retain liquid in said pockets, means responsive to vibration to discontinue rotation acceleration of said drum, means responsive to a persistent unbalance vibration over a predetermined period of time to discontinue operation of said power means and said load unbalance responsive means, for a period of time to provide sufiicient deceleration of said drum, to reduce the speed thereof below said predeter-- mined speed and below that required to retain counterbalance liquid centrifugally within said pockets, said last named means being adapted to restore operation of said power means after said last named period of time, to initiate a second balancing cycle. L 7, In a washing machine, a washing and extracting drum mounted for rotation and having an imperforate outer wall, power means for accelerating said drum to an extracting speed, a pluralit' of radially inwardly open pockets uniformly arranged around the periphery of said drum, means for centrifugally delivering balancing fluid to one or more of said pockets, comprising radially inwardly open channel annuli, one for each of said pockets and including a fluid connection between each channel and a-corresponding pocket, non-rotating means for delivering fluid under pressure selectively into one or more of said annuli, means'sensitive to rotational unbalance of said drum and the angular position of the mass creating unbalance for controlling said delivering means, and selecting the annulus or annuli for receiving balancing fluid to compensate for rotational unbalance, shaftdriven speed responsive means for rendering said last named means effective only above a predetermined speed, and means responsive to a continuous predetermined period of unbalance to out OK said power means for a period sufiicient to permit said drum to substantially stop rotation, and thereafter restore said power means to repeat the balancing cycle.

8. In a washing machine, a washing and extracting drum mounted for rotation and having an imperforate outer wall, power means for accelerating said drum to an extracting speed, a plurality of radially inwardly open pockets uniformly arranged around the periphery of said drum, means for centrifugally delivering balancing fluid to one or more of said pockets, comprising radially inwardly open channel annuli, one for each of said pockets and including a fluid connection between each channel and a corresponding pocket, non-rotating means for deliver ing fluid under pressure selectively into one or more of said annuli, means sensitive to rotational unbalance of said drum and the angular position of the mass creating unbalance for controlling said delivering means, and selecting the annulus or annuli for receiving balancing fluid to compensate for rotational unbalance, drum shaft speed-responsive means for rendering said sensitive means inoperative at all rotational speeds below that necessary to cause flow of said fluid under centrifugal force from said annuli to said pockets, and means responsive to a continuous predetermined period of unbalance to out off said pOWer means for a period sufiicient to permit said drum to substantially stop rotation, and thereafter restore said power means to repeat the balancing cycle.

9. In a washing machine, a washing and extracting drum mounted for rotation and having an lmperforate outer Wall, power means for accelerating said drum to an extracting speed, a plurality of radially inwardly open pockets uniformly arranged around the periphery of said drum, means for centrifugally delivering balancing fluid to one or more of said pockets, comprising radially inwardly open channel annuli, one for each of said pockets and including a fluid connection between each channel and a corresponding pocket, non-rotating means for delivering fluid under pressure selectively into one or more of said annuli, means sensitive to rotational unbalance of said drum and the angular position of the mass creating unbalance for controlling said delivering means, and selecting the annulus or annuli for receiving balancing fluid to compensate for rotational unbalance, and means responsive to a continuous predetermined period of unbalance to cut ofi said power means for a period suificient to permit said drum to substantially stop rotation, and thereafter restore said power means to repeat the balancing cycle.

FRANCIS P. KEIPER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,604,748 Grauer Oct. 26, 1926 2,230,345 Bradbury Feb. 9, 1941 2,311,545 Hurley et a1 Feb. 16, 1943 2,311,924 Bassett Feb. 23, 1943 2,420,592 Gerhardt May 13, 1947 2,461,643 Hemmeter Feb. 15, 1949 2,463,801 Page Mar. 8, 1949 2,471,217 Johnson May 24, 1949 2,498,420 Hemmeter Feb. 21, 1950 2,534,267 Kahn Dec. 19, 1950 2,534,268 Kahn et al. Dec. 19, 1950 2,534,269 Kahn et a1. Dec. 19, 1950 

